Collapsible road marker



Jufiy i, 1% J. PALAZZOLO ET 3,520,235

COLLAPSIBLE ROAD MARKER Filed March. 12, 1969 LL INVENTORS m J4cKP41422010 moms FAMA if e.

United States Patent 3,520,235 COLLAPSIBLE ROAD MARKER Jack Palazzolo,-35 50th Ave. 11101, and Thomas Fama, 23-02 28th Ave. 11102, both ofLong Island City, NY.

Filed Mar. 12, 1969, Ser. No. 806,393 Int. Cl. E01c 23/16 U.S. Cl.94-1.5 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible road markeradapted to be stored in the trunk of a vehicle when not in use. It canbe readily assembled into the shape of a vertical truncated pentahedronbrightly colored and luminous when illuminated in the dark which isdisposed adjacent the vehicle, when broken down to warn other motoristsand prevent accidents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The item invented is a simple, collapsiblehighway marker similar to those rigid, cone-shaped markers used bytraffic departments and highway repair crews to form tratfic lanes or toindicate to the motorist that he should swing into another lane. The bigadvantage to these markers is that the marker is collapsible and can beused by individual motorists to warn oncoming trafiic of his breakdown.Unlike flashing lights or flares, these markers need no batteries, aresafe and can be used many times. The marker can be colored so that itcan be seen easily during the day, can be eaesily seen by a motorist atnight when his headlights beam falls on the object.

The collapsible marker is easy for the individual to put together. Itconsists of a base, a two-piece rod and a cover which makes up most ofthe mass of the item. The rod, when the marker is collapsed, can bestored in the base. The two pieces can be screwed together to make therod, slipped into the cover and placed into position in the base. Themarker can be just as easily collapsed and will take very little storagespace when it is.

The material to be used can be made of plastic or of other inexpensivebut fairly durable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawingsi FIG. 1 is a side viewof our invention as assembled;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of our invention as assembled;

'FIG. 4 is a detail view of base and rod as assembled;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of base and rod in stored position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the support rod;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-8,a flat square base plate 10 has a top surface with a central circularrecess 12 and a recessed bottom surface 14 with clips 16.

Rod sections 18, and 20 can be stored detachably in clips 16. In use,the flat end 22 of section 20 rests in recess 12 with its oppositelydisposed axially extending finger 36 fitting into axial recess 24 ofsection 18.

A hollow truncated pentahedron 26 open at both ends is formed of plasticrubber or the like, is brightly colored (for example, orange, opaque)and is luminous when illuminated, as for example by headlights, in thedark.

The larger end of pentahedron 26 snap-fits over base plate 10 with thesections 18 and 20 extending upward therein.

The smaller top end of pentahedron 26 is a lock having a base member 28with a central hole and a thin plate 30 with an aligned central holethrough which knob 32 on the top of section 18 extends. Screws or pins34 permit plate 30 to be pivoted manually to detachably lock thestructure in place.

While we have described our invention with particular reference to thedrawings such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention what is asserted as new is:

1. A collapsible road marker comprising:

a fiat square horizontal base plate having rod supporting means;

a rod adapted to be supported vertically at its bottom end by said platemeans; and

a hollow truncated pentahedron open at both ends, the

larger end of said pentahedron being adapted to be detachably secured tosaid plate; and

additional means disposed in the other end of said pentahedron to engagesaid rod adjacent its other end.

2. A marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate means is acentrally disposed recess in the top surface of the plate.

3. A marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said additional meansincludes a lock.

4. A marker as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bottom silirface of saidplate is recessed and carries rod storing c ips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NILE C. BYERS, 111.,

US. Cl. X.R.

Primary Examiner

